2016 STATION AWARDS

ENTRY DETAILS | RULES & REGUL ATION REQUIREMENTS FOR WINNERS

BROADCASTING A W A R D C A T E G O R I E S

THE AWARD The Virginia Association of Broadcasters Station Awards Program is sponsored annually by the VAB to recognize outstanding achievement by Virginia radio and television broadcasters. This competition was established to encourage the highest standards of reporting, community service and production creativity. It brings the ultimate prize–peer recognition to members of the broadcast industry in Virginia.• Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting will be presented during the Annual VAB Summer Convention at

the VA Beach Hilton in Virginia Beach, Virginia, June 22-24, 2017.

• The awards presentation will be held at the banquet on Friday evening, June 23, 2017.

• Only VAB-member radio and television stations are eligible to participate.

• Awards are based on projects first aired between January 1 and December 31, 2016, with the sole exception of the Outstanding Newscast Award (see page 4).

• Awards judging will be conducted by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.

• Commercial and non-commercial stations will be judged separately. Different market sizes will be judged separately. All stations should use the enclosed entry form.

TELEVISION DIVISIONSTelevision stations will be judged in two divisions with Commercial Television judged by Small Market and Large Market for all categories except Editorial and Feature Reporting, which have one division only.

· Small Market Commercial Division includes stations with advertising and consists of stations in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg/Roanoke areas.

· Large Market Commercial Division includes stations with advertising and consists of stations in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Richmond areas.

· Non-Commercial or Public Division includes all television stations with no advertising.

RADIO DIVISIONSRadio stations will be judged in four separate divisions for all categories except Editorial and Feature Reporting, which have one division only. Should a radio station be considered “Home” to an Arbitron rated market, the station will be judged in the same “Division” at that market.• Large Market Division includes stations in

Richmond/Petersburg, Roanoke/Lynchburg, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia SMSA areas.

• Medium Market Division consists of stations outside the metropolitan districts that are classified by the Commonwealth of Virginia as cities of first class: Fredericksburg, Winchester, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg/Christiansburg, Charlottesville, Staunton, Waynesboro, Danville, Bristol, Martinsville and Radford.

• Small Market Division includes all stations serving Virginia cities and towns not noted above.

• Non-Commercial or Public Division includes all radio stations with no advertising.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Christina Sandridge at (434) 326-9815 or christina.sandridge@easterassociates.com

Who can enter? Competition is open only to VAB member stations; however, non-member stations may qualify by joining the VAB prior to entering.

Entry Aired When?Entries must have aired anytime during the 2016 calendar year, with the sole exception of the Outstanding Newscast award (see details on page 4).

How do I submit radio?Radio entries must be submitted on MP3 files or CDs. A separate one for each entry must be submitted. Entries will not be returned. Please mark tape with station call letters, category and entry title.

How do I submit television?Television entries may be submitted on DVD format. A separate one for each entry must be submitted. Entries will not be returned. Please mark entries with station call letters and category.

Entry FormEach entry must be accompanied by an official entry form (on page 6), which reflects the division, category, entry title, length, and station call letters.

Producing for others? News organizations producing news for stations other than their own may enter in any eligible category, but may not enter more than one entry per category per news organization. In other words, if a television station produces news for another station it may only enter one time in the Outstanding News Series category.

Type of awardA maximum of one winner per category, per division will be selected. Judges reserve the right to give no award in a category or division.

Station Logo Needed?All winners must provide station logos. (see below)

SignatureThe station General Manager must sign the certification on the entry form.

How will I be notified? Following the decision of the judges, the VAB office will notify station winners.

FeeEntry fees are $10 per entry for all divisions and all categories. A check made payable to the VAB must accompany the entries. One check for total amount may cover all entries. Or you may pay online at www.vabonline.com.

Deadline for EntriesEntries must be postmarked no later than April 14, 2017.

Ship To:VAB Station Awards Committee 250 West Main Street, Suite 100Charlottesville, VA 22902

RULES & REGULATIONS

REQUIREMENTS FOR WINNERS

What is shown at the convention?Only winning excerpts will be shown at the convention.

LogoWho should send a logo? All winners in all categories must send the VAB a logo of their station. Please send this as an email attachment (PDF, JPG, GIF, or TIF files only). Email to easter@easterassociates.com and specify VAB Station Awards in the subject line.

Once our judges have made their decisions, winners will be notified and the VAB office will need the station logo.

VAB I 2016 STATION AWARDS

Outstanding NewscastMaximum Entry Length: 35 minutes. Exceeding 35 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 35 minutes and base their decision only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit. One entry per station.Qualifications: This award is given to the VAB member station which best exemplifies the highest standards of news broadcasting. Consideration will be given to the station’s news presentation, coverage of specific stories, and coverage of community events as presented by the station’s newscast.Presentation: The tape presentation should be an unedited local newscast, which aired on your station during a regularly scheduled time period on either Tuesday, December 13, 2016 or Thursday, December 15, 2016. No narrative or pre-produced presentation will be accepted. One entry per station.

Outstanding News SeriesMaximum Entry Length: 10 minutes. Exceeding 10 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 10 minutes and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit. One entry per station.Qualifications: One story or more on a single subject or issue. This category is designed to judge the news department’s enterprise ability; it is not designed to examine the immediate news happening typical of spot news.Presentation: The tape presentation should only consist of segments or portions of local segments that actually aired. The entry can be an edited composite of actual reports presented in two or more programs or segmented series, but the length of the entry must not exceed the maximum length stated above. One entry per station.

Outstanding Sports CoverageMaximum Entry Length: 10 minutes. Exceeding 10 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 10 minutes and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit.Qualifications: For radio, the objective of this award is to honor the best daily sportscast or play by play seasonal segment. For television, the objective of this award is to honor the best

daily sportscast segment. Anchor and/or reporter delivery, writing, use of video, and overall on-air presentation will be judged.Presentation: One complete (not to exceed 10 minutes) sportscast from a regularly scheduled newscast.

Best Morning ShowMaximum Entry Length: 15 minutes. Exceeding 15 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 15 minutes and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit. One entry per station.Qualifications: This award is given to the VAB member station that best serves its audience through news, entertainment, and/or music that airs in a radio program between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. or in a 60 or 90 minute television program that airs between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.Presentation: The tape presentation should provide highlights that demonstrate the nature of the program.

Best Station Promotion/ContestMaximum Entry Length: 90 seconds. Exceeding 90 seconds will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 90 seconds and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit. Two entries per station.Qualifications: Entry can be up to 90 seconds using the following combinations: One :90 second spot, one :60 second spot, one :30 second spot, one :60 plus one :30 second spot, or three :30 second spots. For entries containing multiple spots, these spots must be part of a series in a single campaign. Must be conceived, written, produced, and aired by station; may be sales and/or audience promotion.Presentation: Each entry must be submitted on its own tape. The tape presentation should contain the single or entire series (no more than three) of announcement(s).

Best Public Service/ Community EventMaximum Entry Length: 90 seconds. Exceeding 90 seconds will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed

BROADCASTING A W A R D C A T E G O R I E S

to stop the tape at 90 seconds and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit. Two entries per station.Qualifications: Entry can be up to 90 seconds using the following combinations: One :90 second spot, one :60 second spot, one :30 second spot, one :60 plus one :30 second spot, or three :30 second spots. For entries containing multiple spots, these spots must be part of a series in a single campaign promoting a community event. Must be conceived, written, produced, and aired by station. Presentation: Each entry must be submitted on its own tape. The tape presentation should contain the entire single or series (no more than three) of announcements.

Best CommercialMaximum Entry Length: 90 seconds. Exceeding 90 seconds will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 90 seconds and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit.Qualifications: Single or series (no more than three) commercial spots for a single advertiser. Multiple spot entries must be part of a single campaign. Must be conceived, written, produced, and aired by station.Presentation: Each entry must be submitted on its own tape. The tape presentation should contain the single or entire series (no more than three) of announcement(s). Two entries per station.

Best Documentary or Public Affairs ProgramMaximum Entry Length: 30 minutes. Exceeding 30 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 30 minutes and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit.Qualifications: This award is given to the VAB member station that produced the best documentary or public affairs program. The program aired must have been at least 15 minutes long or longer, and have aired as a separate and complete program.Presentation: The tape presentation should be edited to conform to the time limit specified above; however, nothing (that did not appear on the air) may be added to the entry.Special Awards: One division only—all stations compete in the same division. One entry per station.

Best Human Interest SeriesMaximum Entry Length: 10 minutes. Exceeding 10 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 10 minutes and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit.Qualifications: This award is given to the VAB member (radio and television) station which recognizes the positive contributions and achievements of individuals or organizations who have made a significant difference in their community. A daily, weekly, or periodic sustaining series of inspirational, positive stories about people helping others and doing good things within their community. For entries containing multiple segments, these segments or portions of segments must be part of a series in a single campaign promoting the achievements. Presentation: Each entry must be submitted on its own tape. The tape presentation should contain the entire single or series (no more than three) segments and should provide highlights that demonstrate the nature of the above qualifications. One entry per station.

Outstanding Feature ReportingMaximum Entry Length: 10 minutes. Exceeding 10 minutes will not result in disqualification; however, judges will be instructed to stop the tape at 10 minutes and base their decisions only upon that portion of the entry observed within the time limit.Qualifications: Single or series (no more than three) on one subject. Material considered to be human-interest type stories. The story may be considered soft or hard news, but must examine the human condition. Anchor and/or reporter delivery, writing, use of video, and overall on-air presentation will be judged. Presentation: The entry must be submitted on its own tape. One entry per station.

All Categories are open to radio and television. Limited entries are noted by category. Judges reserve the right to give no award in a category. Nationally syndicated shows are not eligible for any award category.

VAB I 2016 STATION AWARDS

Entrant InformationStation call letters ____________________________________________________________________________

Entry submitted by ____________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________

City __________________________________________________ State __________ Zip _________________

Phone ____________________________________ Email ____________________________________________

Entry Detai l sCategory ___________________________________________________________________________________

Entry title __________________________________________________________________________________

Tape format: TV: o DVD Radio: o MP3 o CD Division (check only one)Please note that if your entry is submitted in the wrong market, the entry will be disqualified (see page 2).o Television—Commercial (Small Market)o Television—Commercial (Large Market)o Television—Non-Commercial or Publico Radio—Large Marketo Radio—Medium Marketo Radio—Small Marketo Radio—Non-Commercial or Public

Entry Fee$10 entry fee must accompany each entry. One check may cover multiple entries from a single station.

Cert i f icat ionI certify that this entry was broadcast on our station during 2016 and meets all guidelines for this award.

General Manager signature ______________________________________________________________________

Print name __________________________________________________________________________________

Date ______________________________________________________________________________________

Mail to: Virginia Association of Broadcasters 250 West Main Street, Suite 100 Charlottesville, VA 22902 434/977-3716 • fax 434/979-2439

Entries MUST bepostmarked byApril 14, 2017

VAB I 2016 Station Awards